The Real Deal Miami

Making zoning changes harder to get

Zoning commissioners say too many variances are being approved in the Town of Palm Beach and they want that to change.

Getting variances and zoning changes approved would become trickier if the Planning and Zoning Commission gets its way. It is recommending that the five-person Town Council raise the number of votes needed for approval to four from three, according to the Palm Beach Daily News.

The effort comes in the wake of the Royal Poinciana Way zoning initiative, a contentious zoning change that was approved by the council but then turned down by voters.

Commissioner Michael Scharf, a proponent of the measure, told the publication that requiring a supermajority would push council members to compromise better. [Palm Beach Daily News] – Jennifer White Karp